Russia’s focus on regional stability was underscored in March when an attack on a concert hall near Moscow killed 145.

The blast also claimed the lives of three of Mr. Haqqani’s bodyguards, the sources said.

This marks the Council’s fourth meeting on Afghanistan this year.

She added that the Taliban’s actions have undermined prospects for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan

A copy of the directive, dated December 8, has been shared with university staff, sources said.

“The systematic violation of cultural rights in Afghanistan under the Taliban is an attack on the soul of the nation,”.

Moscow views militant groups across a region stretching from Afghanistan to the Middle East as a critical security threat.

This comes amid reports from the UN indicating a 30 percent increase in opium production in Afghanistan this year.